>>25519333
Necessary. The stock market isn't the economy, it's investments in the future's market. If they successfully get to audit Ft. Knox, he wind no matter what. If there is enough gold in there to cover the American money supply than the rebound will be immense, if there isn't then the scheme gets exposed, the market dumps, prices level to appropriate values and we (the world) will be forced to reset.
Speculative markets don't like change or unpredictability. Investors are now putting their short term finances in proven markets such as precious metals. This has been historically the safest way to keep your money supply from losing value (low risk).
If you are a day trader, sure it might look like your world is ending, but it's not. Strengths are being leveraged and the stock market is responding the only way it knows how to in the short term.